Are Frozen Fruits and Vegetables as Nutritious as Fresh?

A recent New York Times article has brought up an interesting topic on fresh vs. frozen produce. Understanding the nutritional differences between frozen and fresh is a question asked by many mothers. We’re always eager to provide the best nutrition for our kids but sometimes time is of the essence and buying produce can be overwhelming for many reasons.

Have you asked yourself these questions?

What if I don’t end up using the produce in a recipe?

What if no one likes the produce?

What produce is in season?

What if the produce spoils fast?

What if there is a recall?

Does it really have to be organic?

These are all valid questions and I always have two answers – one is meal prep and plan accordingly by only buying what is the bare minimum required for a recipe and the other is buy a package of frozen vegetables. Of course, there is nothing better than offering fresh wholesome produce to your babies but its all about perspective. It’s all about making decisions that will allow you to be healthier. For example, if cooking a recipe with frozen vegetables denies you the chance to order take-out or pizza, that’s a win. If you’re adding fruit to your little ones’ pancake batter, that’s a win.

Per Dr. Bouzari, “…In general, the differences in nutrient levels between fresh and frozen are so minor that they would be unlikely to have an impact on overall health, and dietitians generally encourage people to eat as many fruits and vegetables as they can, in whatever form they enjoy.”

Also, as noted in the article:

Frozen berries will also deteriorate when kept in a home freezer that’s opened and shut often, she said, so freeze fruits in a deep freezer or at the very back of a kitchen freezer

Key Takeaway: Focus on optimizing fruit and vegetable intake the most nutritious way possible and frozen is definitely a convenient and healthy option.

At Yummy Spoonfuls, we understand it’s hard to absorb everything we read so we want to make it easy for you to focus on key takeaways from articles like this New York Times piece. What are you reading? Have you seen any studies or trends and are curious what it all means? Share them with us and we’ll help provide clarity and clear through the clutter!